Peach tree named &#39;FLATWO&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of white flat peach tree denominated ‘FLATWO’ which have fruits with high eating quality, an early ripening time and a very long shelf life without alteration before and after harvesting, the fruits having a semi-sweet white flesh, with a slightly red pigmentation when the fruits reach their maturity, and an attractive skin with a high percentage of purple red blush on skin surface, on a marbled orange red background.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No. 2015/2864 filed on Nov. 27, 2015 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.

Variety denomination: ‘FLATWO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of white flat peach tree, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, which has been given the variety denomination ‘FLATWO’.

This new tree produces fruits with a long shelf life without alteration both on the tree after growth completion and after harvesting, very good eating quality, semi-clingstone white flesh fruits, with a slightly red pigmentation around and into the stone cavity, for fresh market early in June in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The ‘FLATWO’ white flat peach tree originated from a cultivated area of the south of France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where it was tested.

This place is under a Mediterranean climate (a temperate area), on the Mediterranean coastline. Winters are gentle and summers warm and dry. The amount of days with temperatures below 7° Celsius can vary between 600 and 1200 hours per year. The place is sunny, with 2400 to 2800 hours of sunny days per year on average. The prevailing wind is called ‘Tramontane’: it dries the air, clears the sky from clouds, but its intensity can be strong and affect the harvest, fruit quantity and/or quality. Marine moisture does not affect the place. Precipitations are irregular through the year and from one year to another. The amount of rainy days does not exceed 80 days per year, and are mostly found in Spring and Autumn. In May and October, very intense precipitations occasionally happen. Summer is dry with a few thunderstorms.

The ‘FLATWO’ variety results from a pollinated cross between the none selected white nectarine variety named ‘ASF 0621’ which was used as the seed parent, and the ‘FLATREINE’ white flat peach tree, also known as ASFPBF0796 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,495) which was used as the pollen parent.

The ‘FLATWO’ variety was obtained by hybridizing and propagated by grafting on a ‘INRA® GF677’ (non-patented) rootstock trees. It has been determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are no known effects of the standard rootstock trees set forth above on the scion cultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. The plant was reproduced asexually by us in Les Régalines, Route d'Alenya, La Prade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. More particularly, the plant was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety ‘FLATWO’ white flat peach tree blooms at the end of February or early in March near Elne in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The blooming period is considered early. However, it was observed that its date of blooming seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

The first fruit of ‘FLATWO’ ripens early season, generally during the first two weeks of June. More particularly, ripening time usually begins from June 1^(st) to June 22^(nd). However, it was observed that its date of maturity seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing, which are as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a color photograph showing a branch of a tree of the new variety in orchard, bearing fruits;

FIG. 3 is a color photograph which depicts the flower buds at different development stages, and the reverse and side view of the flower and the reproductive organs with petals removed, of the new variety.

FIG. 4 a close view of three typical specimens of the fruit of the new variety

‘FLATWO’ at ripening time, one fruit having been cut in half with the pit being left in one of the halves for depicting leaves, fruit flesh, pit and pit cavity of the new variety.

Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the flowers, stones and fruits depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual botanical specimen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variations in soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potential for commercial production of fresh fruits by ‘FLATWO’ is high, due to fruit very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting.

Trees are vigorous and large stature half-standing in a semi-flared out aspect. The anthocyanic coloration of flowering shoot is present excluding brushwood side away from sun. The time of beginning of flowering is considered early; flowering begins at the end of February or early in March. The type of flower is showy with medium petal size. Petals are medium pink. Leaf glands are present and reniform. The fruit flesh is white and generally with a red pigmentation when reaching maturity. The fruit skin is thick, with a luminous purple red blush on a marbled orange red background. The stone is semi-clingstone and his size is small. Fruit taste is semi-sweet, very aromatic and with a high level of sugars.

Compared to ‘ASFPBF0796’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,495), its male parent, ‘FLATWO’ variety blooms 2 to 3 days earlier and the fruits of ‘FLATWO’ variety ripen approximately more than 1 month earlier. The maturity of ‘FLATWO’ variety is considered early.

Compared to ‘FLATEARLY’ (not patented) variety, ‘FLATWO’ variety blooms approximately at the same time and ‘FLATWO’ fruits ripen 2 days earlier. The size of ‘FLATEARLY’ fruits is considered homogenous A whereas the size of the new variety fruits is considered homogenous A-2A. The ‘FLATEARLY’ variety has a closed blossom end whereas the new variety ‘FLATWO’ has a perfect and totally closed blossom end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of white flat peach tree, the following was observed on trees in their third growing season (second year of production) under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchards located near the town of Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France. All observations have been done on rootstock cultivars. Used rootstocks were ‘INRA® GF677’ (non-patented) trees. All major color code designations are by reference to The R.H.S. Color Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—         -   Generally.—Considered large. The tree size the first year             was approximately 200 to 280 cm. The tree was pruned during             each following dormant season to a height of approximately             250 cm. Current season shoots growth could reach 80 cm. The             tree size from the second year (second and next years)             reached a final height of 330 cm including current season             shoots length. The tree size is consistently reduces to 250             cm the next years.         -   Spread.—Approximately 100 cm with a cylindrical shape. The             whole orchard was oriented to a central leader organization,             with tree lines spaced of 4.0 meters and trees spaced of 1.0             meter in a same tree line. As a result, tree spread was             about 100 cm and the orchard contained 2500 trees by             hectare.         -   Vigor.—Considered strong.         -   Productivity.—Very Productive. Fruit set is spaced by             thinning to develop the remaining fruit into the desired             market sized fruit. The number of the fruit set varies with             the prevailing climatic conditions and cultural practices             employed during the bloom period, and is therefore not             distinctive of the present variety. A reduce vegetation,             obtained with pruning or green pruning, approximately 1             month or 1 month ½ before harvesting flat fruits,             significantly promotes fruit qualities, especially growth,             color and firmness. Moreover, contamination risks due to             monilia or rot are significantly reduced. ‘FLATWO’ variety             is not much sensitive to cracking of pistil cavity, to cork             formation into peduncle cavity or to monilia.         -   Bearer.—Very regular. The fruit distribution is considered             homogenous on mixed branches and spurs having more than 1             year. Thinning of 2 fruits out of 3 was necessary for the             tree valorisation. Thinning was necessary every year during             the years of observation.         -   Form.—The ‘FLATWO’ variety has naturally a semi-flared             shape.         -   Density.—Considered dense.         -   Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in             France. The variety appears to be hardy under the central             Pyrénées-Orientales departement typical climatic conditions.             Experimentations on different sites with winter chilling             requirement comprised between 350 hours and 1200 hours             showed a good behaviour of the tree in all cases.             Traditionally, flat fruits are more sensitive to critical             low temperatures and to climatic variations, because of the             flower morphology in which the ovule is less protected than             in the classical round fruits. Thus, areas not much exposed             to frost are recommended for trees growth. However ‘FLATWO’             trees seem to be very resistant to critical frosty weather. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 50.0 millimeters in diameter when             measured at a distance of approximately 20.0 centimeters             above the soil or the graft level.         -   Bark texture.—Considered rough, with lenticels.         -   Lenticels.—Numerous lenticels are present, about 3 lenticels             per cm². The lenticels range in size from approximately 4.0             millimeters in width, and about 2.0 millimeters in height.         -   Lenticel color.—The lenticels have a light brown to beige             color (RHS Greyed Brown N 199 D).         -   Bark coloration.—The bark has a light light grey color (RHS             Grey 201 A or RHS Grey 201 B). -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Mature branches and current season shoots are             considered medium for the variety.         -   Diameter.—Average as compared to other peach varieties. The             current season shoots have a diameter of approximately 4.0             millimeters, and mature branches have a diameter of             approximately 6.0 millimeters.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, wood which is several years old has             no furrowed appearance.         -   Crotch angles.—Primary branches are considered variable, but             the crotch angles are generally of 60 degrees from the             horizontal axis. This particular characteristic is not             considered distinctive of the variety, however.         -   Current season shoots.—         -   Internode length.—Generally 16.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—The color of new shoot tips is considered light green             (RHS Yellow Green 145 A) on lower part of new shoot tips,             whereas the upper part is darker and colored in brown to             purple red more or less deep (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A to RHS             Greyed Purple 183 B), depending on the level on the tip and             the sunlight exposure.         -   Mature branches.—         -   Internode length.—Generally 23.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—The color of mature branches is considered light             brown (RHS Grey Brown 199A) -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium for the species. The ratio leaf             length/leaf width is 3,64.         -   Leaf length.—Approximately 150.0 to 172.0 millimeters with             leaf petiole. The medium length is about 160.4 millimeters.         -   Leaf width.—Approximately 39.0 to 52.0 millimeters. The             medium width is 44.0 millimeters.         -   Leaf base shape.—Concave.         -   Leaf form.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf tip form.—Short, pointed and acuminate.         -   Leaf color.—         -   Upper leaf surface.—Yellow Green (RHS Yellow Green 147 A).         -   Lower surface.—A lighter green (RHS Yellow Green 146 A or             RHS Yellow Green 146 B) than the upper leaf surface color.         -   Leaf texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined.         -   Mid-vein.—         -   Color.—Light green, almost cream white (RHS Yellow Green 145             D). The color may evolve with maturity.         -   Leaf margins.—Slightly undulating.         -   Form.—Considered slightly dentate.         -   Uniformity.—Leaves are isolated or grouped by 2 or 3. In             this last case, one leaf of normal size is found with one or             two smaller leaves (at least 50% smaller).         -   Leaf petioles.—         -   Size.—Considered medium.         -   Length.—About 12.0 to about 17.0 millimeters         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters.         -   Petioles color.—         -   Upper petiole surface.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 144 A             to RHS Yellow Green 144 B).         -   Lower surface.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A to RHS             Yellow Green 145 B).         -   Leaf glands.—         -   Size.—Considered medium to large. Their length is about 1.5             millimeters and their width is about 1.0 millimeter.         -   Number.—Generally 2 glands per leaf.         -   Type.—Reniform.         -   Margins.—Smooth and regular.         -   Color.—On young leaves, leaf glands color is considered a             light green (RHS Green 145 B). On older leaves, leaf glands             color turns to a dark brown (RHS Grey Brown 199 A to RHS             Grey Brown 199 B).         -   Leaf stipules.—         -   Generally.—No leaf stipules were observed. But as seen in             the characteristic relative to the leaves uniformity, it is             possible to find leaves by groups of 2 or 3, with a             normal-size leaf and smaller ones. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower buds.—         -   Generally.—At pre-floral stage of development, the floral             buds are conic in form with a round tip. Their form is             evolving until blooming, with variables dimensions. Just             before blooming, floral buds are between 9.0 and 11.0             millimeters wide and between 15.0 and 17.0 millimeters long.         -   Color.—This characteristic is dependent upon the proximity             to bloom. At pre-floral stage of development (stage A), the             bottom of the flowers buds, formed by the sepals, is of             purple-brown color (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A or RHS Greyed             Purple 183 B or RHS Greyed Purple 183 C RHS Greyed Purple             187 B or RHS Grey Brown Group 199 A near the base). The             corolla, formed by the petals, is generally of pink color             (RHS Red Purple 65 B or RHS Red Purple 69 C). Petals color             shows an evolution until the end of flowering.         -   Hardiness.—The buds are considered hardy under typical             central Pyrénées-Orientales departement climatic conditions.             No winter injury was noted during the last several years of             evaluation in the central Pyrénées-Orientales departement,             with winter temperatures as low as −10 degrees Celsius in             January. The current variety has not been intentionally             subjected to drought or heat stress, but the variety showed             a very good resistance in orchard to temperatures up to 42             degrees Celsius with an average temperature between 28 and             30 degrees Celsius during 3 weeks in summer.         -   Date of bloom.—The blooming time generally begins at the end             of February or early in March. The first bloom was observed             on Feb. 20, 2013.         -   Blooming time.—Considered early in relative comparison to             other commercial peach cultivars grown in the             Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France. The date of full             bloom is observed generally at the middle of the blooming             period. The date of bloom varies slightly with climatic             conditions and cultural practices. Thus the full bloom was             observed in 2013, from February 20^(th) until March 11^(th),             then from February 21^(st) until Mar. 4, 2014, then from             March 9^(th) to Mar. 17, 2015 and then from February 19^(th)             to Feb. 29, 2016.         -   Duration of bloom.—Approximately between 9 to 20 days. This             characteristic varies slightly with the prevailing climatic             conditions.         -   Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a showy type             flower.         -   Flower size.—Considered medium. Flower diameter at full             bloom is approximately 29.0 to 33.0 millimeters.         -   Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant, approximately between             45 and 50 flowers per meter, with a high rate of fruit set.         -   Flower bud frequency.—Generally 2 flower buds appear per             node, occasionally 1.         -   Petal size.—         -   Generally.—Considered medium.         -   Length.—Generally between 17.0 and 19.0 millimeters. The             medium length is 18.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Generally between 16.0 and 19.0 millimeters. The             medium width is about 17.25 millimeters.         -   Petal form.—Round-shaped.         -   Petal count.—Generally 5.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth and soft.         -   Petal color.—Both surfaces of the petal are colored with a             medium Pink (RHS Red Purple 65 B or RHS Red Purple 65 C or             RHS Red Purple 65 D) when young, becoming slightly darker             until the end of blooming.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet.         -   Petal claw.—         -   Form.—The claw is considered to have a triangular form,             narrow at the base.         -   Length.—About 3.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—About 2.0 millimeter at the base.         -   Color.—The petal claw usually shows a color which is darker             than the petal color (RHS Red Purple Group 61 B)         -   Petal margins.—Generally considered wavy, sinuate.         -   Petal apex.—         -   Generally.—The petal apices are generally wide dome shaped.         -   Flower pedicel.—         -   Length.—Considered medium and having an average length of             approximately 3.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Considered average, approximately 1.5 millimeters.         -   Color.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green N144 A to RHS Yellow             Green N144 B).         -   Calyx.—         -   Internal surface texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Color.—At the stage F of blooming, when the flower is open,             the inner surface of the calyx is green yellow (RHS Yellow             Group 13 A to RHS Yellow Group 13 B or RHS Yellow Orange             Group 17 A or RHS Yellow Green 150 A to RHS Yellow Green 150             B). The outer surface of the calyx is considered of             purple-brown color (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A or RHS Greyed             Purple 183 B or RHS Greyed Purple 183 C or RHS Greyed Purple             187 B) and yellow green near the base of the calyx (RHS             Yellow green 144 A to RHS Yellow Green 144 B).         -   Sepals.—         -   Sepal count.—Usually 5, sometimes 6.         -   Surface texture.—The outer surface has a fine pubescent             texture.         -   Margins.—Smooth         -   Size.—Medium.         -   Length.—Approximately 5.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Conic and round at the top.         -   Color.—Both sides of sepals are colored with a matt Red (RHS             Greyed Purple 183 A or RHS Greyed Purple 183 B or RHS Greyed             Purple 183 C to RHS Grey Purple 187 B).         -   Anthers.—         -   Generally.—Small in length.         -   Color.—At an early stage of maturity, anthers are colored             with an orange yellow (RHS Yellow Orange 16 A to RHS Yellow             Orange 16 B) or an orange red color (RHS Red Group N34 A or             RHS Greyed Red Group 178 A).         -   Pollen production.—Pollen is abundant, and has an orange             yellow color (Approximately RHS Yellow Orange 17 B to RHS             Yellow Orange 17 C) which may evolve with maturity. The             present variety is considered auto-fertile             (self-pollinating).         -   Filaments.—         -   Size.—Medium length, between 11.0 and 14.0 millimeters in             length. Filaments length is generally higher than the             pistil's length.         -   Color.—Considered pale pink (RHS Red Purple 62 C to RHS Red             Purple 62 D) or a darker pink (RHS Red Purple 73 A to RHS             Red Purple 73 B). The color becomes darker during the             blooming.         -   Average number of stamens per flower.—Generally between 37             and 42.         -   Pistil.—         -   Number.—Usually 1.         -   Generally.—Average in size.         -   Length.—Approximately 10.0 to 12.0 millimeters including the             ovary. Generally smaller than or equal to filaments in             length.         -   Color.—Considered a very pale green (RHS Yellow Green Group             151 D). The color evolves during the blooming to become more             and more pale green (RHS Yellow Green Group 150 D) and             sometimes very slightly pink (RHS Red Group 36 D) at the end             of blooming.         -   Ovary.—The pubescence is present. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Very firm in ripe conditions             (shipping ripe).         -   Date of first picking.—Jun. 22, 2012.         -   Date of last picking.—The date of harvest varies slightly             with the prevailing climatic conditions. The ‘FLATWO’             variety has an early date of picking, and a grouped             maturity. The maturity is grouped within 5 to 10 days and             the harvest is generally performed in two runs. Last known             picking times carry on June 22^(nd) to Jun. 26, 2012, then             from June 11^(th) to Jun. 19, 2013, then from June 1^(st) to             Jun. 8, 2014 then from June 8^(th) to Jun. 17, 2015, and             then from June 7^(th) to Jun. 14, 2016.         -   Size.—         -   Generally.—Homogeneous in size. Considered medium to large             for this time of the season.         -   Average cheek diameter.—Approximately 54.0 millimeters.         -   Average axial diameter.—Approximately 33.0 millimeters.         -   Typical weight.—Generally 75.0 grams. This characteristic is             high dependent upon the prevailing cultural practices, and             therefore is not particularly distinctive of the variety.         -   Fruit form.—         -   Generally.—Round and flattened, generally with few bump. The             fruit is generally uniform in symmetry, viewed from the             suture's plane.         -   Suture.—         -   Fruit suture.—Wide-mouthed and slightly marked, extending             from the base to the apex. No apparent callousing or             stitching exists along the suture line. Not pointed.         -   Color.—The suture has generally a similar color to the whole             fruit color, which is purple red (RHS Greyed Purple 187 A).         -   Ventral surface.—         -   Form.—Smooth.         -   Apex.—slightly depressed.         -   Base.—Semi-flared, shallow.         -   Stem cavity.—Average depth of the stem cavity is about 6.0             to 7.0 millimeters. Average width is about 9.0 to 11.0             millimeters.         -   Fruit skin.—         -   Thickness.—Considered thick and strong, and the adherence of             skin to flesh is strong to medium, depending on the fruit             maturity.         -   Texture.—Very smooth for a peach variety.         -   Taste.—Semi-sweet, sugary.         -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.         -   Color.—         -   Blush color.—This blush color is purple red (RHS Greyed             Purple 187 A). The purple red blush covers 75% of the fruit             skin surface on a marbled orange red background (RHS Orange             Red N 34 A) on approximately 25% of the fruit skin surface.             The percentage of the blush on the fruit skin surface can             vary, and is generally dependant upon the prevailing             conditions under which the fruit was grown.         -   Ground color.—The ground color covers approximately 25% of             the fruit skin surface, and is considered marbled orange red             (RHS Orange Red N 34 A).         -   Fruit stem.—Medium in length, approximately 9.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—Pale green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A).         -   Flesh.—         -   Ripens.—Very homogenously, slowly. The flesh has a long             shelf life.         -   Texture.—Very firm, very dense, crunchy, melting, juicy at             harvest maturity stage.         -   Fibers.—Not fibrous.         -   Aroma.—Very pronounced.         -   Eating quality.—Considered very good, aromatic.         -   Flavor.—Considered semi-sweet. The Brix is generally between             9 and 12 and acidity comprised between 6 and 9 meq/100 ml.         -   Juice.—Juicy to very juicy at complete maturity.         -   Brix.—Generally 9.0 to 12.0 degrees. This characteristic             varies slightly with the number of fruit per tree;             prevailing cultural practices; and the surrounding climatic             conditions.         -   Flesh color.—The flesh is considered white (RHS White 155 A             to RHS White 155 B) usually with a slightly red pigmentation             (RHS Red 45 C) when the fruits reach maturity. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Semi-Clingstone, more or less semi-adherent depending             on the fruit maturity.         -   Size.—Considered small. The stone size varies significantly             depending upon the tree vigor, crop load and prevailing             growing conditions.         -   Length.—Approximately 10.0 to 13.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 19.0 to 21.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 19.0 to 21.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Flattened.         -   Base.—Straight.         -   Apex.—         -   Shape.—The stone apex is flattened.         -   Stone cavity.—Considered small size, with flattened form and             dimensions corresponding to the stone's dimensions.         -   Stone surface.—         -   Surface texture.—The pit is transversely furrowed on its             entire surface. Furrows are deeper and more oblate on             lateral sides.         -   Ridges.—The surface texture is generally characterized by             more prominent ridges along the ventral edges and at the             apical tip.         -   Ventral edge.—         -   Width.—Approximately 4.0 millimeters at mid-suture.         -   Dorsal edge.—         -   Shape.—Grooved.         -   Stone color.—The color of the dry stone is generally             considered light orange brown (RHS Greyed Orange 164 B or             RHS Greyed Orange 164 C).         -   Tendency to split.—Splitting is absent.         -   Kernel.—         -   Size.—The kernel is considered small.         -   Length.—Approximately 7.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 6.0 millimeters.         -   Thickness.—Approximately 5.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Considered flattened and elliptic. Sometimes double.         -   Pellicle.—The pellicle of the kernel has a short pubescence.         -   Color.—The kernel skin is orange-brown colored (RHS Greyed             Orange N 167 B or RHS Greyed Orange N 167 C). The almond,             which is the seed of the kernel, is white (RHS White 155 D)             and has a bitter tasting. The kernel and its embryo are             mature at the time of fruit maturity.         -   Use.—The subject variety ‘FLATWO’ is considered to be a             white flat peach tree having an early season of maturity,             and which produces fruits that are considered firm,             attractively colored in purple red. Fruits have a semi-sweet             taste and are excellent for uncooked consumption, crunchy or             melting when at full maturity. Fruits have excellent             gustative qualities. Due to their flesh quality, firmness             and density, they can also be commercialized as 4^(th) range             product (packed fruit or fruit in bags for example). And             they are also useful for both local and very long distance             shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Remarkable. Fruit have a slow maturation             and a long shelf life both on the tree after growth             completion and after harvesting without alteration. After             growth completion, fruits are preserved more than one week.             After harvest, fruits are well preserved more than 2 weeks             at 2.0 degree Celsius.         -   Shipping quality.—Considered very good. The fruit of the new             white flat peach variety showed minimal bruising of the             flesh or skin damage after being subjected to normal             harvesting and packing procedures. Its resistance to             handling during harvest and packing and its long shelf life             without alteration after harvest easily permit 2             weeks-shipping at 2 degrees Celsius.         -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular             susceptibilities were noted. The present variety is not very             sensitive to Monilia or rot. The pistil cavity is completely             closed, generally without any cork formation. Although the             new variety of white flat peach tree possesses the described             characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions             prevailing near Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales departement,             France, it should be understood that variations of the usual             magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing             conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control and             horticultural management are to be expected. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of white flat peach tree as illustrated and described, characterized by fruits with high eating quality, an early ripening time and a very long shelf life without alteration before and after harvesting, the fruits having a semi-sweet white flesh, with a slightly red pigmentation when the fruits reach their maturity, and an attractive skin with a high percentage of purple red blush on skin surface, on a marbled orange red background. 